8 Waves

10/29/2026

Every student deserves people in their corner who help them see what’s possible.

Through Club Vision, 8 Waves connects students with community members who share their experiences, offer encouragement, and help students explore opportunities for their futures.

Thank you to Jason, Community Engagement Manager at Healthy West Orange, for spending time with our students and sharing your experience!

We’re grateful to Blake Price State Farm, Florida Paints, and Healthy West Orange for supporting Club Vision and investing in our students.

Have a career, skill, or story to share? Send us a message to learn about becoming a guest speaker or community partner.

10/19/2026

HISTORIC DAY FOR THE I AM CHILDREN’S MUSEUM! $25 MILLION!

An extraordinary day for 8 Waves and the children and families of Central Florida!

Today, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to advance $25 million in Tourist Development Tax (TDT) funding for the I AM Children’s Museum in Winter Garden!

We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Jerry Demings, Commissioner Nicole Wilson, and the entire Board of County Commissioners for recognizing the importance of this project and investing in the future of our children.

This historic milestone brings us one enormous step closer to making this vision a reality! Congratulations to our founder, Sara Meyer, and everyone who has worked tirelessly to bring us to this moment.

The future is bright for the children of Central Florida!

The I AM Children’s Museum is an initiative of 8 Waves that will bring an innovative, interactive children’s museum to Winter Garden. Through hands-on exhibits and purposeful play, the museum will inspire creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning while serving families throughout Central Florida and beyond.

10/06/2026

The event of the season is officially back in Windermere!

8 Waves Home for the Holidays Gala is returning on November 21st. We are pulling back the gates to a stunning, private estate, completely transformed into a fully decorated winter wonderland. This is the undisputed "Party of the Year" an intimate, high-vibe evening of pure holiday magic.

A Soaring Performance by the Orlando Opera Immersive, world-class vocal artistry echoing under the holiday lights.

Dueling Pianos & Curated Live Performers High-energy, non-stop musical entertainment woven seamlessly throughout the night.

Premium Crafted Cocktails & elevated, gourmet Italian culinary bites.

Breathtaking Holiday Decadence Walk through a private estate completely decked out in spectacular holiday decor.

A massive, heartfelt thank you to our visionary presenting sponsor, Crooked Can Brewing Company for stepping up to champion our community’s youth and making this unforgettable night possible!

🎟️ Tickets are strictly limited to maintain an intimate estate experience. Secure your place among the history-makers today: https://my.onecause.com/event/organizations/a62e412d-dc42-4958-b501-a09ad4058fd9/events/vevt:a764e681-b3ee-4250-8112-7229cc0e3e4b/home/story

Every ticket or sponsorship directly fuels the 8 Waves ecosystem to transform the lives of local children. Your presence funds:

* Academic Care: Life-changing on-campus reading, literacy, and student intervention programs.
* The Next Generation: The structural development of the highly anticipated I AM Children’s Museum.

10/04/2026

A few of our incredible 8 Waves students went to see Madame Butterfly with Opera Orlando, and honestly it was incredible. They LOVED it and so did we!

One of the sweetest parts was how happy people were to see children at the opera. That welcome matters. It tells a child, “There is a place for you here, too.”

There is no age too young to begin discovering the arts. Long before a child can explain what a song or a story makes them feel, they can be moved by it. Experiences like this are part of what we dream about for the future of I AM Children’s Museum opening doors to creativity, curiosity, and possibility.

Thank you, Rebecca Sweat, for making helped this night possible, and Orlando for such a beautiful experience. We are so incredibly grateful for this partnership!

Please consider seeing Madame Butterfly or attending a future Opera Orlando performance at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Supporting the arts in our community helps make experiences like this possible for the next generation.

Orlando at The Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

10/01/2026

So proud of our Club Vision students at the Stina D’Uva Tour de Chamber! From designing booth spaces to sharing their work, they put their creativity, teamwork, and marketing skills into practice.

We’re grateful to Healthy West Orange for providing access to space for our Club Vision program, where students learn and prepare for opportunities like this.

Thank you to the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and Legacy Events for Education for partnering with us on this event!

Have an upcoming event that could use our students’ ideas and energy? We’d love to connect!

09/30/2026

Our high school programs are in full swing!

Each week, students gather for tutoring, life skills, career exploration, mentoring, and real conversations with community professionals.

These students are talented, driven, and full of ideas and we’re proud to invest in their goals and expand the possibilities around them.
Their potential is already here. Our job is to make sure opportunity is, too.

09/29/2026

We are so grateful for this incredible opportunity!

09/25/2026

We’re partnering with Florida Paints, and this September, your paint run can help too. 🎨

Add $1 or $5 to your total at any Greater Orlando Florida Paints store this month. Every dollar goes straight to 8 Waves.

We’re so grateful to Florida Paints for all their support.

Small ask. Real impact.

09/24/2026

8 Waves is incredibly grateful for this partnership and for the amazing women helping us make reading exciting through our Bears Who Care program, which will impact thousands of students this year. We are honored to help bring Pages to Prizes to life!

Orlando’s future may depend on an investment as simple — and powerful — as putting a book in a child’s hands. >> See the full article below ⬇️

09/19/2026

Yesterday, we turned the very first page of Bears Who Care in the 2026-2027 School Year! 🐻

At one of our incredible partner schools, Academic Center for Excellence, 200+ children across 10 classrooms stepped into a world where bears, books, art and imagination came alive and we can’t wait to return throughout the year!

Now the adventure continues to 12+ additional schools, and we need volunteers to help bring the wonder into every classroom. As 8 Waves develops I AM Children’s Museum, Bears Who Care will grow into a museum outreach program and inspire a future kid-sized pretend-play exhibit centered on bears and literacy. Come be part of the story, message us to help bring a spark of creativity to local schools!